Does your blood pressure soar when the weather gets cold? A lot of people measured it wrong at home! Medical reminder: If you do these 3 things more, the data may be inaccurate
Hypertension is a common, chronic disease that, if not properly controlled, can lead to serious cardiovascular disease or other complications. This year, Dongshenghua Pharmaceutical specially invited Dr. Wu Liwei, director of the geriatric medicine department of the Tri-Service General Hospital, to the Shiding Rizhao Center of the Lao Wulao Foundation to conduct hypertension health education activities and share drug treatment and daily monitoring to help patients with hypertension. Can significantly reduce related risks.
Don’t just say “I don’t feel good”! 2 steps to make communication between doctors and patients smoother
In order to improve effective communication between doctors and patients and the effectiveness of treatment, Dr. Wu Liwei suggests that the following steps can be taken to make communication between doctors and patients smoother:
1. Preparation before diagnosis: Fully grasp your own health data
Patients can prepare for the following before meeting with their doctor. First, record blood pressure data, record blood pressure changes for a week according to the “722 principle”, and provide complete data for doctors to analyze trends. Second, list the symptoms and problems. Record whether you have experienced recent symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or chest tightness, and be prepared to ask questions such as medication side effects or lifestyle advice. The third step is to organize medication and lifestyle habits: provide a list of currently used medications, including health products, and review recent diet, exercise, and daily routine.
2. Inter-clinic communication: clear, specific and candid
Describe the symptoms specifically. Instead of saying “I sometimes feel uncomfortable,” it is better to be specific: “I have had a headache when I woke up in the morning for the past three days, and my blood pressure readings were 150/90, 148/92, and 151/91 respectively.” This kind of clear information can help doctors. Quickly grasp the condition.
Proactively express concerns. If you have questions about the doctor’s advice or prescription, for example, if you are worried about the side effects of a certain drug, you should proactively ask: “I heard that this drug may affect sleep, what should I pay attention to?” The doctor can further explain or adjust the plan accordingly.
Discuss treatment options. Some patients may have difficulty making certain lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking, reducing salt) and may discuss alternatives with their physician. For example: “It’s difficult for me to cook every day to reduce salt. Are there any other ways to reduce sodium intake?”
Treatment guidelines containing 2 major compound drugs reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by 19.6%
Talking about the mechanism and benefits of compound drugs, “CCB” can inhibit calcium ions from entering vascular smooth muscle and achieve the effect of lowering blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. “ACEi” inhibits the formation of angiotensin-converting enzyme, dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure and vascular resistance.
The study pointed out that a combination drug containing these two ingredients can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in high-risk hypertensive patients by 19.6%. At the same time, studies in Taiwan and Japan have also confirmed that the use of ACEi can effectively reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. This finding has been included in the treatment guidelines of the Taiwan Stroke Medical Association, and is particularly important for elderly patients or patients with hypertension associated with chronic diseases.
Dr. Wu Liwei reminded that doctors will tailor appropriate antihypertensive drugs based on the patient’s medical history, lifestyle and blood pressure data. Patients can fully communicate with their doctors to ensure that the drug plan meets their needs and promptly report any side effects or insufficient efficacy.
How can the elderly properly control blood pressure? Walking 5,000 more steps a day will improve your health
At the same time, Dr. Wu Liwei pointed out that in addition to drug treatment, a healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of blood pressure control. In terms of diet, it is recommended to follow the DASH Diet, choose low-sodium, high-potassium, and high-fiber foods, consume more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while reducing the intake of processed foods and saturated fats. Stress management is also key. Effectively reducing stress through meditation, deep breathing exercises or social activities can help stabilize blood pressure and promote overall health.
Regular exercise is also essential, with at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week, such as brisk walking, jogging or swimming. Elderly people can choose to walk 5,000-7,000 steps a day or do more than 10 minutes of moderate activity, combined with resistance exercise. Such as standing on tiptoes or simple muscle training to enhance physical fitness and blood vessel elasticity. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol are important cardiovascular health strategies, which can reduce the impact of nicotine and excessive alcohol on blood pressure.
Don’t do these 3 things 30 minutes before taking the measurement! When measuring blood pressure at home, you must abide by the “722 Principle”
Home blood pressure monitoring is not only an important tool in hypertension management, but also helps physicians adjust treatment plans. Patients can follow the 722 principle to effectively control blood pressure changes. “7” represents 7 consecutive days of measurement; the first “2” represents 2 measurements in the morning and evening; the second “2” represents 2 consecutive measurements with an interval of at least 1 minute.
In addition, you should also pay attention to the following matters when measuring:
Equipment selection: Use a certified upper-arm electronic sphygmomanometer and confirm that the cuff size matches the upper arm circumference.
Preparation before measurement: Avoid strenuous exercise, drinking coffee or smoking within 30 minutes before measurement, and sit and rest quietly for 5 minutes.
Correct posture: Lean back on the chair, place your feet flat on the ground, and keep your arms at the same height as your heart. Keep quiet and do not speak during the measurement.
Accurate positioning: The cuff should be placed approximately 2.5 cm above the bend of the elbow.
Finally, Dr. Wu Liwei reminded that through regular blood pressure monitoring, patients can detect abnormalities early and seek medical treatment promptly; and the management of hypertension is a protracted battle. Through the active participation of patients and the collaboration of the medical team, the quality of life can be effectively improved. , prevent the occurrence of complications. Patients should actively cooperate with the medical team and share blood pressure monitoring data and medication responses so that doctors can adjust treatment plans in a timely manner.
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